Frederick Charles Taylor

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Frederick Charles Taylor (1907–1961) was reeve (mayor) of York, Ontario in 1961. York is now part of Toronto.

Taylor was elected in the 1960 municipal election as a reformer. He ran against Christopher Alexander Tonks. Tonks had been conflict of interest scandal. Taylor had been trying convincing the government to create a royal commission to look into corruption in land dealings.. He had created a motion at township council in 1956 for an inquiry but it was defeated. His own investigation into the issue found that many building permits that had been issued with the result of illegal tri-plexes (small three-level apartment buildings) being built.[1] As a township councillor, Taylor had opposed many of the land deals that had been criticized by Judge David Sweet's royal commission into alleged corruption in York Township. Taylor was a semi-retired builder. He had been a school trustee for four years and a township councillor for three. Taylor was endorsed for the reeveship by the York Township Citizens' Committee. It was a group that had gotten a |court order to remove Tonks as reeve. The court order was overturned on appeal.[2]

Taylor was born in Toronto. He was educated at Harbord Collegiate Institute. Taylor worked as a salesman and contractor before opening a building company.[3] He was elected to the school board in 1951 and then to York Township Council in 1955. He tried to become a township councillor the year before but lost. He was defeated in 1958 before running against Tonks for the reeveship in 1960. Tayloe defeating him by an almost 3 to 1 margin. After almost a year as reeve, Taylor died of a heart attack on December 15, 1961. [3][4][5]

References[change | change source]

  1. Judge Sweets Thunderous Report Resounds Behind York Electioneering: 3 Oppose Reeve Tonks, 20 Run for 8 Other Jobs The Globe and Mail (1936-); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]. 23 Nov 1960: 3.
  2. "Taylor's plan for York: Would O.K. occupied triplexes". Toronto Daily Star. 1960-11-01.
  3. 3.0 3.1 "Frederick Taylor: Contractor-Reeve, 55, Sparked York Probe". The Globe and Mail. 1961-12-16..
  4. "Fred Taylor, York Twp Reeve". Toronto Daily Star. 1961-12-15.
  5. Baker, Alden (1960-12-06). "Summerville, Allen Denhison Givens on Board". The Globe and Mail. Urged Probe, Ousts Tonks In York Twp.